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Category Archives: Health

Yes, I said butter. Up until recently I was using Smart Balance. It is vegan, GF, etc. But then I did some research. It’s just fancied up margarine. Yep that’s right, the evil margarine. It’s better than most margarine, but it’s not good for you. So all of my recipes, all of my cooking, is about to switch. Yes, back to butter.

Let me tell you about Smart Balance. In a word, GMO. You know me, that’s it, no more Smart Balance.

So I started researching. Apparently there is even debate on whether grass-fed or organic butter is better for you. AGH! I am studying for the bar and don’t have time to figure this out. And even then, there is too much debate to be sure.

This is something everyone needs to decide for themselves, but margarine with it trans fat is decidedly no longer part of my diet.

Alright, this is not the topic for a shrinking violet. If it bothers you, get over it. One-quarter to 45% of all women will suffer from urinary incontinence. In July, 2010, I had Retropubic Suspension to help me with my incontinence. That helped, but it didn’t make it perfect.

I then looked into Sacral Nerve Stimulation. Medtronic was the company the urologist I went to uses. They put a temporary pacemaker in and it worked. But it hurt like hell putting the lead into the sacral nerve. I was awake. But they had a very nice woman that I spoke with everyday paid for by Medtronic. She was a great cheerleader and very nice. But I wondered about it because she worked for the company and not the doctor. How much did this cost anyway?

So off to google I went. Guess what? It costs about $25K and it has to be replaced every 18-36 months. What? No wonder they hire someone full-time to assist patients in making up their minds. So I decided to wait. Then I talked to a friend of mine from law school. His wife had had the surgery and she said if she had understood what was entailed she would not have had the surgery because if hurt so badly having it done. You see, you have to be awake to have the doctor get it in place.

So then I got The Bathrrom Key. That really helped. Part of the problem I had was that when I’d squeeze to try and not go to the bathroom, I was squeezing the wrong place. I thought I squeezed around my urethra. No, you squeeze your pelvic floor muscles to keep from going to the bathroom, which seems counter intuitive. But ti works. So that helped a lot and I haven’t even finished reading it.

But there was still a little bit of a problem left. Not everyday. Just once-in-awhile. But that was too often. I knew caffeine affects the bladder. In fact, it seems like caffeine has a higher incidence for incontinence than anything else, including childbirth. Caffeine irritates your bladder. Coffee is slightly acidic, which can help change the PH in your bladder.

Artificial Sweeteners also can bother your bladder. So can carbonated drinks. So can. . . you get my drift.

First I gave up anything with artificial sweeteners in them. Then I gave up carbonated drinks. Once in awhile I drink La Croix, which is sparkling water, has no caffeine and no artificial sweetners. This was relatively easy. Then I gave up my morning coffee. Yep. For real. I now have maybe two cups of decaf a week. I do still drink green or white tea, but the amount of caffeine in green or white tea is minuscule compared to coffee.

Since I did this, I am almost cured. Literally. In about two months. And everyday it gets better. I don’t regret any of the steps I’ve taken. They have all helped. I’d do them all over again. But first, I’d start with the coffee, the sweeteners and the carbonated beverages. Then the book. Finally, I’d have the surgery. But I’d want to do everything as natural as possible. So this is my incontinence journey. I thought long and hard before sharing, but since the problem affects so many women, I thought I should come out of the bathroom and into the light.

My gorgeous daughter Sarah. She is a yoga instructor and a lover of nature and her husband took this picture while they were camping. Namaste.

In November, 1982, I slipped and fell and dislocated my right ankle. I broke a piece off of my talus and this dislocation occurred and I broke my fibula in two. Ouch! I had surgerty to pin it back together and for the most part, it was fine. Except for stairs. I have never been able to do stairs right. I have always had to walk up (or down) stairs one step at a time, like a two-year-old. If I tried to do it single stairs, I had to almost pull myself up with my arms. And it was hard.

Last week I started yoga. Yesterday, after two yoga practices, I could walk up and down stairs with ease. Today I had my a big heavy computer case on my right side and it wasn’t perfect, but I still was able to walk up the stairs like a normal person. I would say that after only two practices, this is a miracle. Literally this has bothered me for thirty years and I’m getting better.

Another benefit is that I have rocked side-to-side while standing and since I am working on good posture, that is decreasing. So Yoga rock. Try it yourself.

If we are friends on FB you probably already know that I’m not too fond of Monsanto. I have believed for awhile that GMOs and chemicals are one of the primary causes behind the huge rise in people becoming Gluten Intolerant. I have noticed that if I am eating organic, which means NO GMOs, I am not as sick when I get accidentally glutenated.

As I’m reading about GMOs I discover that my theory is more than likely right. I say that because it is easy to find support for almost any theory on the internet. So when reading on the internet you have to see if it makes sense, what the web site is, etc. But all I did was google GMOs and Gluten and voila! I found tons of stuff.

It has long been shown that Gluten Intolerance is linked to mental disorders, including schizophrenia, but it now appears that eating GMOs causes sleep disturbances and anxiety. In fact, one of my classmates in law school told me that he had given up gluten at the recommendation of his uncle, a MD who said that he controlled his anxiety but giving it up. How simple is that? Hmm. Do you want to take Xanax or give up gluten? Do you want to take Ambien or give up gluten? Um, I think I’d rather be GF than medicated, thank you very much!

It is now known that GMOs interfere with the production of GAD and GABA, which are processed in the brain and the pancreas. I googled pancreatic cancer and it appears that it is the only cancer where deaths are expected to rise (and this was from Fox News, gag me.) While I looked at the pancreatic cancer sites, I saw that doctors were in a quandary as to what causes Pancreatic cancer. What I can see is that since 2004, pancreatic cancer has increased at a rate of 1.4% per year. When you google pancreatic cancer there are a million ideas as to why it is on the increase but for some reason, the holy grail of GMOs has not been included. Oh, someone can link it to soda pop, but not Monsanto. The study against pop does admit that people who drink pop tend to eat a less healthy diet. Could that mean that they tend to eat more GMOs?

By 2008, this map was no longer accurate, with GMOs then accounting for 114 hectares in 23 countries. GMOs have also led to a massive increase in pseticides, which we have known since the 106-s and 1070s is not a good thing. In 2009, the hectares used byt GMOs had increased to 134 million. Wait a minute, am I the only person who is seeing a correlation between GMOs, pesticides, gluten intolerance and pancreatic cancer?

I think we need tougher laws on GMOS in this country. Over 50 countries require labelling of GMOS but the US has failed to protect its citizens. I believe I have a right to decide if I want to eat a GMO. If I don’t,, that’s my choice. If it doesn’t bother me and I want to eat it, same there. California has a proposition on the ballot for November to require labeling, which would be amazing. Almost 91% of people surveyed said they wanted GMO labeling. This is a country by the people and for the people, but apparently that doesn’t extend to GMO labeling,. So until we have labeling I will stick to organic and/or food that is labeled GMO free.

Okay, I’m not saying that deodorant isn’t Gluten-Free but what it is is loaded with bad things. According to the National Cancer Institute the studies are conflicting. But that means that the ingredients in antiperspirants and deodorants COULD cause cancer. So why would I risk it at all? Just saying.

Ingredients in Commercially Prepared Antiperspirants and Deodorants

Aluminum: Aluminum-based compounds are used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants. These compounds form a temporary plug within the sweat duct that stops the flow of sweat to the skin’s surface. Some research suggests that aluminum-based compounds, which are applied frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and cause estrogen-like (hormonal) effects. Because estrogen has the ability to promote the growth of breast cancer cells, some scientists have suggested that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer.

Parabens: Some research has focused on parabens, which are preservatives used in some deodorants and antiperspirants that have been shown to mimic the activity of estrogen in the body’s cells. The belief that parabens build up in breast tissue was supported by a 2004 study, which found parabens in 18 of 20 samples of tissue from human breast tumors. However, this study did not prove that parabens cause breast tumors. The authors of this study did not analyze healthy breast tissue or tissues from other areas of the body and did not demonstrate that parabens are found only in cancerous breast tissue. Furthermore, this research did not identify the source of the parabens and cannot establish that the buildup of parabens is due to the use of deodorants or antiperspirants.

So Now What?

For me, this is enough to make me question using deodorants. I bought some natural deodorants but they were expensive and I still wasn’t sure if this is what I wanted to use. Then, I found a cool recipe (which I have of course modified0.

Homemade Deodorant

1/4 c. baking soda (anti-stink and dry)

1/4 c. corn starch (smooth and dry)

5-6 T. coconut oil (microbial, anti-stink, and soft)

5 drops Rosemary Extract (a natural preservative)

5-6 drops your favorite oil (I used narcissus but be careful, a little bit goes a long way)

The best way to mix this is to mix the oils together first.

Fold in the baking soda and corn starch.

Put in a jar and dab on in the mornings.

It really works. Right after I made my first batch I realized that I needed it NOW! I put it on and Viola! Stink Gone!

Ingredients in Homemade Deodorant and How They Are Good

Rosemary ExtractRosemary extract is perhaps the most effective of the antioxidant class. Using Rosemary Extract will give off a slight herbaceous smell, but it can be covered or enhanced by other fragrances. In fact, many manufacturers create formulas that highlight the rosemary scent. ROE is oil soluble and should be blended in the oil stage of making lotions and creams.

Coconut OilI can’t find anything wrong with coconut oil except it’s a saturated fat. The people who love it, love it. There are tons and tons of internet articles telling how wonderful it is. It has been touted as being good for just everything. What is for sure is that is that it is a good source of Lauric Acid and it is microbial. In fact, it can be applied directly on injuries and even bruises.

Corn StarchQuite frankly, there aren’t many health benefits from corn starch, but it won’t hurt you and it does dry things out (like underarms).

Baking Soda Baking soda is supposed to have many health claims. It is suppose to be healing, is good for your teeth, good for your rug, and just good. So, it’s a good thing to use.

For the last several years I have added tofu and soy milk to my diet. Not a lot, but some. I drank Starbucks with soy milk. I ate tofu maybe once a month. So, it was there. And if I felt extremely bitchy (yes, I said that word) then I’d go get a coffee at Starbucks or Whole Foods. What I didn’t know was that I could potentially be harming myself and it is alleged that the soy milk is actually a placebo. Well, that’s not what I wanted to hear.

“Tofu was first used in monasteries in China about 2,000 years ago, in part to promote sexual abstinence, since the phytoestrogens in soy can lower testosterone levels (so maybe there really is something to the saying that “real men don’t eat tofu”). Except in times of famine, tofu was only used as a condiment, with pork, seafood and other forms of protein being preferred. The Japanese probably started eating miso (which is fermented) about 1,500 years ago. Tempeh (another fermented soy food) was not invented until after 1,000 AD when soy came to Indonesia, and it was considered a food for the poor. Most Asians eat only small amounts of fermented soy products (miso, tempeh or soy sauce) as a condiment, and the Japanese typically combine it with fish broth and seaweed that naturally contains iodine, helping offset the thyroid-suppressing effects of soy. Soybean milk was never used historically by Asians to feed their children and soy formula was not invented in China until 1928. The soy milk we drink today is a highly processed food, full of the toxins that naturally occur in soy as well as additives to make it palatable, and not the “health food” it is promoted to be. If you can’t tolerate pasturized cow’s milk (which is also not a healthy food), we suggest looking for a source of raw milk or even raw goat’s milk (as goat’s milk is much easier to digest).”

But then Dr. Sears (apparently a pediatrician) touts soy milk as almost a wonder food. But conversely Mercola vilifies soy. So what is a person to do?

One of the biggest complaints anyone levies against soy is that 90% of the soy products in this country are GMOs. That’s scary. I only buy organic. Food that is labelled organic cannot be from a GMO source. In fact, that right there was caused me to quit eating quite a few things. No GMO for moi!

As for how to deal with this conundrum, I’d say use moderation. I may not add soy milk to my Starbucks anymore, but if I’m craving tofu, I’ll go eat it. I like About.Com’s way of looking at it:

“Super bean or super threat? Should you swear off tofu and throw out the soy sauce? No – for one thing, the amount of soy contained in soy sauce is comparatively low, since it consists mainly of water. More to the point, the real problem is not whether soy is inherently bad (after all, people have been consuming plants with hormones for centuries) but that no one is sure how much soy it is safe to consume. While Asians have been consuming soy for centuries, there have been conflicting claims about how much soy they consume. Nonetheless, if soy starts turning up in everything from cereal to ice cream, we may begin consuming far higher amounts than is normally found in the Asian diet, without any real idea of the consequences. An related issue is that modern preparation methods for soy products may increase the health risks.”

In other words, used minimally, organic soy products are fine. If it’s used too much, it’s not good. Rather like everything else. Don’t overdo it.

Recently I have been hearing about how fast the body replicates itself. Cells divide and die and divide and die. Well, it’s more complicated than that, but I am a law student, completely non-science for the most part, so that’s a fairly good explanation. In fact, according toNPR, the majority of our cells are replaced every year. So that gives an entire new perspective to “you are what you eat.” Food of course allows our body to do what our body does, so in a slightly simplistic manner, is the skin on your arm from McDonalds or from the health food store? What about you liver? Is it from Taco Bell or Whole Foods?

So for the next several weeks I am detoxing my body. I don’t want Burger King arms or Pizza Hut thighs or. . . I want to be Whole Foods Woman! Okay, I know, it was sounding a wee bit melodramatic. Reminds me of Lindsey Wagner.

Things To Cleanse Your Body

Avocado

Avocados. We rarely think of avocados as a cleansing food but these nutritional powerhouses lower cholesterol and dilate blood vessels while blocking artery-destroying toxicity. Avocados contain a nutrient called glutathione, which blocks at least thirty different carcinogens while helping the liver detoxify synthetic chemicals.

Beets.The root contains niacin (vit.B-3), pantothenic acid (vit.B-5), pyridoxine (vit.B-6) and carotenoids. Also minerals like iron, manganese, and magnesium. It is a good source of potassium. Potassium in turn lowers the heart rate. Red Beet Root acts as a splendid organic cleanser, not only of the liver, but also of the kidneys and gall bladder. Taking this helps stimulate the activity of the lymphatic system for coughs, colds and bronchial disorders.

Bone Broth. Glycine and proline are two key components of connective tissue, the biological “glue” that holds our bodies together. There are many types of connective tissue and these two amino acids feature prominently in most of them, from the cartilage that forms our joints to the extracellular matrix that acts as a scaffold for the cells in our individual organs, muscles, arteries etc. Without these two amino acids, we would literally fall apart. So, it is no surprise that we need these two amino acids to heal, not only gaping wounds, but also the microscopic damage done to blood vessels and other tissues in our body caused by inflammation and infection. In fact, glycine is known to inhibit the immune system and reduce activation of inflammatory cells in your body. Whether you are trying to heal from an infection, address an auto-immune disease, or reduce inflammation caused by neolithic foods or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, high levels of dietary glycine are critical.

Broccoli sprouts. They pack 20 times more cancer-fighting, enzyme-stimulating activity into each bite than the grown-up vegetable. Research suggests that eating the sprouts (they have a radish-like taste) kills off H. Pylori bacteria that causes stomach irritation and ulcers.

Cabbage. There are two main types of detoxifying enzymes in the liver, and this potent veggie helps activate both of them. It’s the largest member of the Brassica veggie family, all of which delivers colon-cancer fighting isothicyanates and vitamin C. Coleslaw, anyone?

Celery and Celery Seeds. Celery and celery seeds are excellent blood cleansers and contain many different anti-cancer compounds that help detoxify cancer cells from the body. Celery seeds contain over twenty anti-inflammatory substances. It is particularly good for detoxifying substances found in cigarette smoke.

Cilantro (aka Coriander)

Cilantro. Cilantro contains two specific compounds known as cineole and linoleic acid that both possess anti-arthritic and anti-rheumatic properties. Cilantro also contains a substance known as dodecenal that is twice as powerful as the antibiotic drug gentamicin at fighting infection and eradicating harmful microbes from the body. Cilantro is also a natural antiseptic that can help wounds heal more quickly, and is a natural chelator of heavy metals from the body.

Garlic. Eat garlic to cleanse harmful bacteria, intestinal parasites and viruses from your body, especially from the blood and intestines. It also helps cleanse build-up from the arteries and has anti-cancer and antioxidant properties that help detoxify the body of harmful substances. Additionally, garlic assists with cleansing the respiratory tract by expelling mucous build-up in the lungs and sinuses. For the health benefits, choose only fresh garlic, not garlic powder, which has virtually none of the above properties. Add it to everything — salads, sauces, spreads. In addition to the heart-friendly bulb’s cardio benefits, it activates liver enzymes. Research also indicates that garlic diminishes a process that creates cancer-causing compounds in your body.

Leafy green vegetables. Eat them raw in a salad, throw them into a broth, steam them and mix with rice or add to an omelet, or puree them into juices. The chlorophyll in greens helps swab out environmental toxins (heavy metals, pesticides). It’s also an all-around liver protector, which your liver needs since it’s your major domo detoxifier.